No fatalities

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident at Petersville, AK, 29 Aug 2025

Petersville, AK, United States

On August 29, 2025, a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II operated by POLLUX AVIATION LTD was involved in an aviation accident near Petersville, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s exceedance of the helicopter’s available power while landing in a remote confined area, which resulted in rotor droop and a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 15 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the helicopter’s available power while landing in a remote confined area, which resulted in rotor droop and a hard landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Capability exceededPilotEffect on operation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 29 Aug 2025 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident near Petersville, AK?

The pilot’s exceedance of the helicopter’s available power while landing in a remote confined area, which resulted in rotor droop and a hard landing.

Were there any fatalities in the 29 Aug 2025 ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 29 Aug 2025 involved a ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II, operated by POLLUX AVIATION LTD, at Petersville, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s exceedance of the helicopter’s available power while landing in a remote confined area, which resulted in rotor droop and a hard landing.